Mobility of water molecules in Li+, Na+ and Cs+ ionic forms of Nafion membrane studied by NMR

Correlation times and diffusion coefficients of water molecules were measured for the first time by ¹H spin relaxation and pulsed field gradient NMR in Li⁺, Na⁺ and Cs⁺ ionic forms of Nafion 117 membrane. Hydration numbers of Li⁺, Na⁺ and Cs⁺ cations were calculated. It was shown that at high humidity macroscopic transfer is controlled by the local translational motion of water molecules.     

Theoretical studies on the influence of metallic cations on ring opening of propylene oxide catalyzed by metal-salen complexes

We studied the ring opening of propylene oxide (PO) by salen-M coordinated OH⁻ group [M = Al(III), Sc(III), Cr(III), Mn(III), Fe(III), Co(II), Co(III), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), Ru(III) and Rh(III)]. The results show that the ring-opening energy barriers for M(II) complexes are much lower than those with M(III) complexes in the gas phase, and the barriers correlate linearly with the negative charges on the OH⁻ group and the Fukui function condensed on the OH⁻ group. The nucleophilicity ordering in the gas phase can be rationalized by the ratio of formal positive charges/radius of M cations. Solvent effect greatly increases the barriers of M(II) complexes but slightly changes the results of M(III) ones, making the barriers similar. Analysis indicates that the reaction heats are linearly proportional to the reverse reaction barriers. The relationships established here can be used to estimate the ring-opening barriers and to screen epoxide ring-opening catalysts.     

Isothermal crystallization kinetics of poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate)/layered double hydroxide nanocomposites

Poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) (PHB)/layered double hydroxides (LDHs) nanocomposites were prepared by mixing PHB and poly(ethylene glycol) phosphonates (PEOPAs)‐modified LDH (PMLDH) in chloroform solution. Both X‐ray diffraction data and TEM micrographs of PHB/PMLDH nanocomposites indicate that the PMLDHs are randomly dispersed and exfoliated into the PHB matrix. In this study, the effect of PMLDH on the isothermal crystallization behavior of PHB was investigated using a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and polarized optical microscopy. Isothermal crystallization results of PHB/PMLDH nanocomposites show that the addition of 2 wt % PMLDH into PHB induced more heterogeneous nucleation in the crystallization significantly increasing the crystallization rate and reducing their activation energy. By adding more PMLDH into the PHB probably causes more steric hindrance of the diffusion of PHB, reducing the transportation ability of polymer chains during crystallization, thus increasing the activation energy. The correlation among crystallization kinetics, melting behavior and crystalline structure of PHB/PMLDH nanocomposites can also be discussed. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 3337–3347, 2006     

The concentration effect on the ‘hydrophobic’ and ‘hydrophilic’ behaviour around DMSO in dilute aqueous DMSO solutions. A computer simulation study

We have carried out a molecular dynamics study of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) in water at 298 K at two different densities by simulating two different concentrations: 0.055 and 0.19 mole fraction. We have found an enhancement in the structure of water, an effect that becomes more pronounced as the concentration of DMSO increases. At both concentrations there is a well-defined hydration structure around the oxygen atom of DMSO, which is able to establish strong hydrogen bonds with surrounding water molecules. An increase in the concentration of DMSO depletes the solution of bulk water molecules, reducing the number of hydrogen bonds that water can have in the immediate vicinity of DMSO but increasing the strength of the hydrogen bonds made between the oxygen atom of DMSO and water. There is clear evidence of ‘hydrophobic’ hydration around the methyl groups of DMSO, which is enhanced as the concentration of DMSO increases.     

Physicochemical studies on hydrophobic PEO‐PPO‐PEO triblock copolymer micelles in SDS micellar environment

The shape, size, aggregation, hydration, and correlation times of water insoluble PEO‐PPO‐PEO triblock copolymer micelles with sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) micelles were investigated using transport studies and dynamic light scattering technique. From the conductance of micellar solutions of the polymer in 25 mM SDS and 5 mM NaCl, the hydration of polymer micelles were determined using the principle of obstruction of electrolyte migration by the polymer. The asymmetry of the micellar particles of polymer and polymer‐SDS mixed micellar systems in 5 mM NaCl and their average axial ratios were calculated using intrinsic viscosity and hydration data obeying Simha–Einstein equation. Hydration number and micellar sizes were variable with temperature. The shape of the polymer micelles has been ellipsoidal rather than spherical. The micellar volume, hydrodynamic radius, radius of gyration, diffusional coefficients as well as translational, rotational and effective correlation times have been calculated from the absolute values of the axes. The partial molal volume of polymer micelles has also been determined and its comparison with the molar volume of pure polymer suggested a volume contraction due to immobilization of the water phase by the hydrophilic head groups of the polymer. The thermodynamic activation parameters for viscous flow favor a more ordered water structure around polymer micelles at higher temperatures. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 2410–2420, 2007     

Thermal and structure analysis of FeSO4·H2O-BaO2 mixtures

Investigations on the thermal decomposition of FeSO₄·H₂O-BaO₂ mixtures were carried out under isothermal conditions by using simultaneously solid electrolyte cell (EMF-method). Evoked interactions producing oxygen in the temperature range 553-673 K were established by means of a solid electrolyte oxygen analyzer. Based on Mössbauer spectroscopy data and X-ray analysis it was proved that these reactions were associated with the release of oxygen from barium peroxide, oxidation of ferrosulphate-monohydrate to FeOHSO₄, and formation of barium ferrites such as BaFe₂O₄ and BaFe₁₂O₁₉.     

Development of a new analytical method for the evaluation of hazards from slow decomposition of waste streams and process solutions

A wide variety of liquid streams are generated as part of the process research and development effort. Frequently these streams are drummed off, either as intermediates that must be held for processing or as wastes that must be sent off-site for disposal. Because of the long times and low concentrations often involved, current thermoanalytical techniques were inadequate to detect the potential of streams to generate gas. A custom-made apparatus, the gas evolution test cell (GETC), was developed in the Merck Research Laboratories to measure the gas generation potential of various streams under precisely defined conditions, is the key innovation for the development of a quantitative gas-generation test method.     

SnO2-Nb2O5/MgAl2O4/α-Al2O3催化环氧乙烷水合制乙二醇

采用水热稳定的MgAl2O4尖晶石对-αAl2O3载体表面进行修饰,采用具有较强亲水性能的SnO2对活性组分Nb2O5进行修饰,制备了SnO2-Nb2O5/MgAl2O4/-αAl2O3催化剂,并用于环氧乙烷水合制乙二醇反应.采用X射线衍射、红外光谱和程序升温脱附研究了Sn/Nb摩尔比对催化剂酸性、环氧乙烷在催化剂表面的吸附状态和吸附强度以及催化剂性能的影响.结果表明,Sn/Nb摩尔比明显影响催化剂的组成和结构;催化剂的结构不同,环氧乙烷在催化剂表面的吸附强度存在明显差别,催化剂的催化性能明显不同.     

环氧乙烷和环氧丙烷共聚体系的等温结晶和熔融

环氧乙烷（ＥＯ）和环氧丙烷（ＰＯ）共聚体系的等温结晶前期符合Ａｖｒａｍｉ方程。ＰＯ组分含量增加，Ａｖｒａｍｉ指数ｎ值由１．８到２．４，体系的结晶生长速率与共聚体系的组成和结晶度有关，ＥＯ／ＰＯ共聚体系的平衡熔点随ＰＯ含量的增加而降低。随Ｔｃ增大，△Ｈｍ与△Ｓｍ呈线性降低。     

A novel approach to study the isothermal behaviour of substances after 0.01–1 s from the chemical process initiation

New modifications of a contact heater are suggested for investigating thermal decomposition processes, as well as for determining kinetic characteristics of substances under conditions of intense heating to a fixed constant temperature.

---

Zusammenfassung Zur Untersuchung von thermischen Zersetzungsprozessen und der Bestimmung der Reaktionskinetik von Substanzen bei intensivem Erhitzen auf vorgegebene konstante Temperaturen wird eine neue Abart von Kontakterhitzern beschrieben.